Toronto, May 2, 2025 – May 2025 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Walkerton tragedy, where seven people died and more than 2,000 fell ill after the town’s water supply was contaminated with E. Coli.
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) represented the Concerned Walkerton Citizens during the subsequent public inquiry led by Justice Dennis O’Connor. His findings and recommendations served as a catalyst for rebuilding Ontario’s drinking water regulatory system on a foundation of vigilance and prevention.
Despite significant improvements to the protection of drinking water resulting from the Walkerton Inquiry, CELA is concerned that there is unfinished work to protect drinking water in Ontario and key lessons from Walkerton are being forgotten.
Last month, an Auditor General of Ontario review found significant weaknesses in the provincial government’s ability to protect the health of the nearly 20 per cent of Ontarians who rely on drinking water from non-municipal drinking water systems.
This week, CELA and twenty-seven other organizations asked the Ontario government to commit to clear and public timelines to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations and provide clean drinking water to everyone in Ontario.
CELA Experts Available for Interviews:
Theresa McClenaghan – Executive Director and Counsel during the Walkerton Inquiry
Media Advisory: Anniversary of Walkerton Tragedy Reminder of Ongoing Risks to Drinking Water
CELA Experts Available for Media Interviews
Immediate Release
Toronto, May 2, 2025 – May 2025 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Walkerton tragedy, where seven people died and more than 2,000 fell ill after the town’s water supply was contaminated with E. Coli.
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) represented the Concerned Walkerton Citizens during the subsequent public inquiry led by Justice Dennis O’Connor. His findings and recommendations served as a catalyst for rebuilding Ontario’s drinking water regulatory system on a foundation of vigilance and prevention.
Despite significant improvements to the protection of drinking water resulting from the Walkerton Inquiry, CELA is concerned that there is unfinished work to protect drinking water in Ontario and key lessons from Walkerton are being forgotten.
Last month, an Auditor General of Ontario review found significant weaknesses in the provincial government’s ability to protect the health of the nearly 20 per cent of Ontarians who rely on drinking water from non-municipal drinking water systems.
This week, CELA and twenty-seven other organizations asked the Ontario government to commit to clear and public timelines to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations and provide clean drinking water to everyone in Ontario.
CELA Experts Available for Interviews:
Theresa McClenaghan – Executive Director and Counsel during the Walkerton Inquiry
Richard Lindgren – Counsel during the Walkerton Inquiry
Additional Resources:
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